DW100 The return... what no race number?

Backing up for my second DW 100, its totally amazing how quickly you forget just how hard this ride is, how big that first hill is and how really small easy climbs become impossible mountains after about 80K’s. I’m convinced that (for me) a 60-70K ride can be done with relative ease, but it’s the extra stuff required that all but totally eludes me when I start to hit some climbs after that!

My mission this year was to beat last years time and try to enjoy the day as best I could while remembering that nutrition and hydration are important (needed to avoid a repeat of last years de-hydration problems) for these longer rides.

Started at the back of the pack with a whole bunch of familiar faces, caught up with GeordieAndy at the first hill, then Pikey a bit after the 28K water stop from then on it was pretty much a three man leap frog ride (perhaps a contest of who’s legs felt the best at any particular moment?) between GeordieAndy, Pikey and myself.

Hit the half way feeling pretty good, the climb out from Clares Bridge was a lot easier than last year (ummmm.. clipped in this year.. makes a difference), got really hot over the top of GNR (I rekon it was an unseasonably hot day) and before long I was smashing it down to the canoe bridge, catching up with Pikey and GeordieAndy again.

I did not notice just how hot the sun was at the last stop until I stepped into the shade of the food tent.. man that sun was a killer. Filled up the bottles and had a feed and some electrolytes, packed the ipod (that’s about 50g or weight I carried and did not use?) into a Ziploc bag for the impending swim, waited in line to cross and saw a high number of riders stacking it into the water.. my turn to ride it came and went without incident, collected the wristband (I’m still wearing the freeking thing as I type) and rode on to the “hills of pain”

Through the Woomera range GeordieAndy, Pikey and I continued that earlier leapfrog game up to about jacks track. (Ahh some downhill.. never felt so good). Then with the thought of actually beating my last years time by over an hour I put the head down an went hard.. for about 100M.. then with the thought of actually beating my last years time by over an hour I put the head down an went hard again...for about 100M.. repeating that until I had that cold beer in my hand

Thoughts; I may have to convert to the dark side to get enough training kilometres in the legs if I want to beat 7 hours?